Addis Abeba – International actors have voiced serious concern over reported military confrontations and rising tensions in Tigray urging all parties to exercise restraint, uphold peace agreements, and resolve differences through dialogue to avoid a return to broader conflict.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, said he is closely following developments in northern Ethiopia, where renewed clashes have contributed to a worsening security environment. In a statement delivered by the Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, the UN chief warned that the situation threatens to reverse the gains made since the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement was signed in November 2022 and called on all sides to pursue peaceful resolution and rebuild trust.
“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the potential impact on civilians and the risk of a return to a wider conflict,” the statement said, underscoring the importance of fully implementing existing peace frameworks and working with regional partners such as the African Union to consolidate peace in the region.
In a parallel statement, earlier on Saturday, the European Union, through its diplomatic service, the European External Action Service (EEAS), expressed great concern over the recent developments in northern Ethiopia, including reported military confrontations and clashes. The EU said immediate de-escalation is imperative to avert a renewed conflict that could have “serious consequences for civilians and regional stability.”
The EEAS reiterated that the November 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement remains the essential framework for resolving disputes through dialogue, and affirmed the EU’s readiness to support confidence-building measures toward the full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement.
The twin statements from the UN and EU come amid reports of heightened tensions in Tigray, where lingering political disputes and isolated clashes have raised fears among international observers that stability could unravel in a region already devastated by years of war, displacement, and humanitarian need.
Following the incident the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has urged all parties in Ethiopia’s Tigray region to exercise maximum restraint as tensions rise and reports emerge of renewed clashes in parts of the region.
In a statement issued on Friday, the AU Commission said its Chairperson is closely monitoring developments in Tigray and expressed deep concern over recent developments. He re-emphasized the paramount importance of preserving the “hard-won gains” achieved under the African Union-led Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) signed between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in Pretoria on 2 November 2022.
Similarly, on 29 January 2026, Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, warned that renewed fighting in Tigray risks dragging Ethiopia back into a civil war, endangering millions of lives, worsening the humanitarian crisis, and destabilizing the wider region.
“No party stands to benefit from a return to violence,” Meeks said, calling on all sides to immediately cease hostilities and allow humanitarian organizations unfettered access to civilians in need. He stressed that full implementation of the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement is essential for credible elections scheduled for June to proceed.
“The political challenges facing Ethiopia cannot be resolved on the battlefield,” Meeks added, arguing that diplomacy and free and fair elections remain the only viable path to a sustainable future for the country.
The renewed clashes mark a significant setback to post-Pretoria stabilization efforts, as rights bodies and international partners press for de-escalation and a return to dialogue.
It was also reported the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has welcomed a call by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, urging restraint amid renewed tensions in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, reaffirming that dialogue remains the only viable path to resolving outstanding issues with the federal government.
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